Eamon Dunphy's favourite player of the Trappatoni-era; Andy Reid, has today claimed that the idea of an out-of-control Roy Keane as manager of Sunderland is all nonsense:

"There were times like any manager when he would lose it," he told the 888sport blog .

"To be a good manager you have to. But most of the time he was a really calming influence. It was exaggerated how volatile Roy was."

Andy Reid of Charlton Athletic in action during the Barclays Premiership match between Charlton Athletic and Everton at The Valley on November 25, 2006 (Image: Professional Sport/Popperfoto/Getty Images)

The former Nottingham Forest star, who retired last year, continued: "I probably had more arguments with him – well, not arguments because you daren’t argue with him – [while [playing] for Ireland.

"I had more dressing downs off him when playing with him than when he was a manager. I got on well with him and he was a good manager.

"I’m sure he’d admit himself that he made mistakes as it was his first job but overall he did a good job at Sunderland."

Manchester United captain Roy Keane May 2000 of lifting the FA Carling Premiership trophy at the end of last season. Carling today pulled out of talks to renew their sponsorship deal with the Premier League for next season The decision is set to end an eight-year association between Carling and the Premier League and opens the way for Budweiser to sponsor English top-flight football for three years from next season

This revelation comes after Darren Fletcher, who reportedly didn't get on with the former Cobh Ramblers player, told the Daily Mail that Keane "probably moulded me more than any other player I have known."

Fletcher continued to say: "He was hard on me but he was always fair. If he spoke to me 10 times, nine were compliments. If I was late, Roy would let me know. If my passing wasn't on in training then Roy would let me know."